Leota King

LEOTA KING Graveside services for longtime Cortez resident Leota King will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28 at Summit Ridge Cemetery. Leota (Van Pelt) King was born in San Diego, Calif. to Harrison and Dora Van Pelt on March 24, 1921. She grew up mostly in Arizona, but later close to Dolores where her folks lived for many years before they left their farm and moved to Cortez. Cortez is also where Leota lived with her husband Quention (Mike) King. She had two brothers, the eldest Andrew Van Pelt of San Diego in his later life and brother, Howard Van Pelt of Dolores, Colo., sister, Elsie who married Jerry Quinn later in life. Leota was the last of her family. All others had passed away before her. She met a handsome man, Quention J. King, Sr., who had just moved here from Texas with his family. Quention had a nickname "Mike" and he was known by that name. When she was 18 and Mike was 21 they were married in Phoenix, Ariz., by a Justice of the Peace at the Phoenix Court House. Both the Kings and Van Pelts lived in Arizona a short time and all moved to Cortez as did Mike and Leota. After moving to Cortez they had 2 sons: Quention, Jr., and Neilson Howard. They bought a home on Valley Road and lived there until Mike passed away. Then Leota had to sell her home and moved to a senior housing place. Leota worked at Wilson Pharmacy a number of years (26), retired and did volunteer work at the Senior Center as did Mike also. Both enjoyed helping out there. Due to health problems they both had to give up the volunteer work. Mike passed away in 1998. Due to an accident which paralyzed him (he did finally walk again) Mike wore a brace on his left leg, but he kept going. Leota was proud she lived without assisted money to live on. She lived a simple life, did crafts, crocheted, lots of garden, flowers and yard at her home. In her last years she had to use oxygen due to respiratory and throat problems. She loved and was very proud of her 2 sons and also ALL her grandkids. She is survived by 2 sons, Quention J. King, Jr. and wife, Shirley of Cortez and Neilson Howard and wife, Marilee of Garden City, Ida.; 6 grandkids, 5 great grandkids, 1 great great grandson and 1 great granddaughter on the way. Leota will be waiting with Mike in the Heavenly home for all of her family.